Page 48 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 35

History

and researcher conducting research in Gedi.
She even gave me two pieces of porcelain
fragments, which she believed were from
ancient Chinese vases.

“Gedi is one of the largest historical
monuments along the coast of Kenya,” she
continued. “It is larger than Fort Jesus in

Mombasa Old Town, larger than Jumba la
Mtwana, Mtwapa ruins, and other similar
sites in the area. Gedi is similar to Kilwa
in Tanzania. When we speak of the Swahili

civilization, these cities are found all along
the coast, from the Kenya-Somalia border
down to Tanzania.” Inner structures of the city. Image: Samuel Phillips

“The city was enclosed by two walls. The Gedi was officially discovered in 1884 by
outer wall, covering 45 acres, had two a British explorer who was a resident of
gates: a north gate and a northwest gate. Zanzibar. Like many explorers of the time,
The inner wall, covering 18 acres, had three he came scouting for land for his mother

gates: east, south, and west. These gates country. When they found this city, they
were intentionally misaligned for security decided to keep it hidden.
purposes—if invaders entered through one
gate, it would give the city’s occupants When Kenya came under British colonial

time to escape through another. The walls rule in 1927, Gedi was finally made public.
also divided the city into social classes: the However, instead of being recognized as
wealthy, the middle class, and the poor.” a historical monument, it was designated

as a national park. For 40 years after its
“Gedi thrived from the 10th to the 17th discovery, visitors came here to see animals
century, earlier than Jumba la Mtwana. The rather than to learn about its rich history.
city had no rivers, swamps, or lakes nearby, But Why Was It Hidden?
so its inhabitants had to dig wells. To date,

we have counted 28 wells within the city You might be wondering why the British
ruins. The ocean is about four kilometers colonial government kept Gedi a secret or
from here. The city’s occupants were all why they chose to classify it as a national
Muslims, and there were a total of eight park rather than a historical monument. We

mosques within the city. The outer wall of have explored this question in some of our
Gedi originally stood at nine feet high.” previous articles and videos. One particular
The Discovery and Concealment of Gedi

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